Warm spaces
Holy Cross will be open on Mondays 10.30am-12.00 noon as a warm space for
anyone to come and spend some time. There will be hot soup, hot drinks and biscuits.
We need volunteers to be there to welcome people and help serve drinks, so please speak to Mark or one of the churchwardens if you can offer some time.
Quantock Deanery Prayer Diary - Every day of the month we pray for different people in our Deanery
Watchet and Williton Benefice
22nd Mark Phillips (Vicar); Jane Sperring (Methodist), Mike Sherburn (Baptist), Sam Searle (Salvation Army), Vincent Woods (Roman Catholic)
23rd Julie Pelling (Ordinand), Donna Marsden (Reader)
24th Andrew Tatham, Richard Allen (Retired clergy)
25th Danesfield C of E Middle School, Knights Templar C of E & Methodist First School, St Peter’s C of E First School
Chaplaincies
26th The staff and visitors to Great Wood Camp, Patrick Weld (Chaplain)
27th The employees and contractors at the three Hinkley Point Power Stations (A, B, and C),
Ewen Huffman (Chaplain to HPC) and volunteer chaplains
28th The staff and patients of Cannington Health Centre, Quantock Medical Centre (Nether Stowey), West Somerset Healthcare (Watchet and
Williton surgeries), Williton Community Hospital, and the staff and residents of Croft House (Williton) and The Old Vicarage Care Home (Stockland)
For the last five years, the Archdeaconry Days have formed an important gathering point in the year for people across the diocese to gather around a theme to explore and grow. Following feedback, we are now renaming them, and they will be known as the Everyday Faith event.
Our 2023 theme is:
Everyone, Everywhere Growing in Faith - 29 January – 4 February 2023
Sometimes being a Christian is hard work, we feel stuck in a rut, nothing changes, and we may even feel like we go backwards in our faith journey. At other times, it feels like our relationship with God grows and develops and we learn more about who He is and draw closer to Him.
In 2023 we are going to explore what faith growth means and looks like, affirming and encouraging you along the way.
Throughout the week we will be exploring six themes spelling out the word GROWTH:
1. Growth
2. Rhythms
3. Others
4. Word
5. Together
6. Hope
If you would like to sign up then please go to www.bathandwells.org.uk/everyday-faith to register.
When you sign up you will have the chance to access all of the following:
Online Launch Service – 29 January at 15:00.
Bishop Michael and Bishop Ruth will be joining us online for worship on the theme of Growing in Faith.
Stories of Growing in Faith - Monday, 30 January – Saturday, 4 February
A short video will be released each day, featuring people from across the diocese talking about their experience of growing in faith.
Each day some simple written material will be available for those not able to access the videos.
Archdeaconry Gatherings – Saturday 4 February
In-person Archdeaconry Gatherings hosted by the Archdeacons to celebrate and reflect together at the end of the week.
You are welcome to sign up to any of the sessions:
The Blue School, Wells: 10:00 to 11:30 (arrival and refreshments from 09:30)
Taunton Academy: 10:00 to 11:30 (arrival and refreshments from 09:30)
Wellsway School, Keynsham: 14:00 to 15:30 (arrival and refreshments from 13:30)
The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Readings
1 Corinthians1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23
BENEFICE TEAM INFORMATION
Please contact your churchwardens with enquiries about baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. and any member of the Benefice team is happy to be contacted with general enquiries, requests for prayers, etc.
Benefice Team:
Revd Mark Phillips Vicar Tel: 01984-639669 email: revdmarkphillips@outlook.com
George Fenech Churchwarden St Peter’s Tel: 01984-633577 email: georgefenech44@gmail.com
Sue Withycombe Churchwarden St Peter’s Tel: 01984-632596 email: withysue10@gmail.com
Sarah Lander Churchwarden St Decuman’s Tel: 07765-881229 email: sclarkelander@gmail.com
Janet Bremner Churchwarden St Decuman’s Tel: 01984-632118 email: janetbremner31@btinternet.com
Julie Pelling Ordinand Tel: 07973-961083 email: julie@nickandju.plus.com
Donna Marsden Reader Tel: 01984-633707 email: donnamarsden01@yahoo.co.uk
Benefice Website: www.watchetandwillitonbenefice.com
Facebook Pages: www.facebook.com/StPetersChurchWilliton
www.facebook.com/St-Decumans-120766092644415
Our Parish Safeguarding Officersare:
Mrs Sara Hempshall & Mrs Jackie Smith who can be contacted by telephone: 07961-268411 & by email: safeguardingstdecsstpeters@gmail.com
Prayers for the People of Ukraine
We pray for Peace
Deanery Mission Project
Another addition to the list of things happening on 29th January!
A service at St Andrew’s church, Stogursey at 3pm to mark the closure of the current project – The Fortress, and the start of this year’s project – Heart for India.
Heart for India is a small charity, founded to help Christians in India reach the poorest people with practical help and the Gospel. There will, hopefully, be presentations in both churches, explaining the charity’s work but please speak to one of your Deanery Synod representatives if you would like more information.
Prayers
We are holding in our thoughts and prayers: Graham, Christopher, Jane,
Janet, Sara, Peter, Fay, Alice, Naomi and Elias.
If you would like to be included on the Prayer List, please let Mark, Sarah or Sue know..
During the four weeks of the ‘Epiphany season’ the Sunday Gospel readings describe the first encounters Jesus had with various people, in which he revealed who he was and the purpose of his coming. Sometimes these encounters were accompanied by ‘signs and miracles’ (as today’s Collect says). But always they led to the ‘renewing’ and ‘sustaining’ of lives that were aimless or frail.
Many thanks to all of you who entered our Winter Quiz. We hope you enjoyed the challenge, we certainly enjoyed setting the questions. The winner was Glynis Maule with 97.5 out of 100, which was brilliant. Guy Morgan was the lucky winner of the bottle of wine, his entry was drawn out in Church by Rev Mark Philliips to ensure fairness.
We will now get our thinking caps on ready for Winter Quiz 2023. Many thanks once again.
Sara Hempshall, Liz Payne & Geraldine Fuller
The Question Setters
Prayers for the Benefice
Each week we join our Baptist friends in praying for a local road or street.
Admiral's Close in Watchet
Danesborough View East in Williton
Pray for God’s blessing on those who live there.
Safeguarding Training
If you need to complete or renew your safeguarding training Mike Haslam is leading a basic and foundation level safeguarding training course at the Church Centre, Nether Stowey on Thursday 26th January, which is open to anyone in the Deanery.
You will need to register for a place if you wish to attend. Liz Payne has offered to do a block booking and arrange lift sharing (email peterlizanodyne@aol.com)
or email qv.benefice@gmail.com
or phone Alison Hoare on 01278 732855 (office hours, weekdays 9am-11am) to book.
Timetable
1pm Gather and registration [we will need everyone’s names]
1.10pm Prayers and Welcome
1.15 Session 1
2.15 Break [with refreshments]
2.30 Session 2
3.45 Finish
The Benefice of Watchet and Williton
Sunday 22nd January 2023
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
'Renew your people with your heavenly grace'
CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other)
CAMEO continues on Thursdays in St Peter’s church, 10am-12pm. Everyone welcome to drop in for coffee and chat. Please speak to George or Sue if you have any questions.
Today’s Worship and Readings
8.30am Communion for the Benefice at St Decuman’s
** There is no service at St Peter’s today **
11.00am CTiWW service at The Pavilion, followed by a
bring and share lunch.
Next Sunday - 29 January - Epiphany 4
10.30am Benefice Communion at St Decuman’s
** There is no service at St Peter’s today **
Please see below for other services today
Both churches will usually be open every day during daylight hours.
Dates for the week ahead:
Monday 23rd January 9.45am Benefice Morning Prayer at Holy Cross
10.30am – 12.00 Noon WARM SPACE at Holy Cross – tea, coffee, biscuits, hot soup
Tuesday 24th January 9.30am Little Saints at the Meeting Room, Williton
Wednesday 25th January 10.00am Little Saints at the Salvation Army Hall, Watchet
Thursday 26th January 10.00am CAMEO at St Peter’s
1.00pm Basic and Foundation level safeguarding training (see page 2 for details)
Saturday 28th January 10.00am Flutes rehearse at Holy Cross
Dates for your diaries:
Sunday 29th January 10.30am Benefice service at St Decuman’s
Sunday 29th January 10.30am Deanery service for commissioning of Lay Pastoral Assistants at St Margaret’s, Spaxton
Sunday 29th January 3.00pm Online launch service – Everyone, Everywhere Growing in Faith (see below for details)
Sunday 29th January 3.00pm Deanery Mission Project service at St Andrew’s, Stogursey
Tuesday 31st January 7.00pm St Peter’s PCC in the Meeting Room